Francis Fane, 1st Earl of Westmorland

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Sir Francis Fane, KB (c1580-23 April 1628) of Mereworth in Kent, and then of Apethorpe in Northants.

He was son of Sir Thomas Fane, Kt., (d.1589) by his wife Mary Neville (c1554-1626), sole daughter and heiress of Henry (6th) Lord Bergavenny, KB (d.1586/7), by his wife Frances, daughter of Thomas Manners, KG, 1st Earl of Rutland. Mary Neville, was suo jure Baroness le Despencer (created by writ 1264, English peerage). By letters patent dated 25 May 1604 she had been restored to that name, style and dignity.

Francis Fane's grandfather George Fane, of Badsell in Tudeley, was Sheriff of Kent 1557-58, married Joan, daughter of William Waller of Groombridge in 1557, and died in 1571.

Educated at Queen's college, Cambridge (c1595).

KB-

An MP until he was created Baron Burghersh, and Earl of Westmorland, 29 December 1624. 1008th on the roll.

(de facto eighth) Baron le Despencer, de jure matris, from 1626.

Francis Fane married in 1599, Mary (d.9 April 1640) daughter and heir of sometime ambassador to Paris Sir Anthony Mildmay, Kt, of Apethorpe, Northamptonshire, by his wife Grace (1552-1620) daughter and co-heir of Sir Henry Sherrington (Sharington) MP (c1518-1581) of Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire.

(Grace Mildmay's sister Olive (d.1646) who inherited Lacock abbey, married a Talbot, from which eight generations later sprang the pioneer photographer William Fox-Talbot (d.1877)).

Sir Anthony Mildmay's father Sir Walter Mildmay (c1520-1589), PC, MP, bought Apethorp in 1550; was Chancellor of the Exchequor 1559-89; and founded Emmanuel College, Cambridge 1583. Apethorp was sold by the 13th Earl of Westmorland to Lord Brassey in 1904.

Lord Westmorland had many children...amongst them: Colonel the hon. George Fane.